State-owned French train operator SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français) has awarded a $509m (€350m) contract to UK-based Corus for supplying rails for four years.
The 108m-long rails will be used for track renewal and maintenance of the country's rail infrastructure operator RFF (Réseau Ferré de France).
The contract has an option for a two-year extension.
Corus, a subsidiary of Indian firm Tata Steel, will now invest $51m (€35m) to upgrade its rail production facility in the Lorraine region of north-east France to produce longer rails.
